See-Saw Films has hired former senior BBC executive Jamie Laurenson as its head of television, to be based in the company’s London office from July.
See-Saw, owned by Sydney-based Emile Sherman and UK-based Iain Canning, is currently in production on its first television show, Top of the Lake, a six-part series being directed by Jane Campion for BBC2, UKTV Australia and the Sundance Channel – and for distributor BBC Worldwide.
Laurenson was executive producer for BBC Films & commissioning editor for drama for BBC 4 for four years. Films he was involved in included An Education, My Week With Marilyn, Salmon Fishing In The Yemen and the documentary Project Nim, and his television credits include Toast and Holy Flying Circus.
“Jamie is the perfect fit for our company,” said See-Saw in a statement. “As an incredibly experienced film and television executive we are excited by his decision to focus solely on developing and growing our television business. “Increasingly there appears to be no distinction between film and television talent and hiring Jamie puts us in the best position to take advantage of that.”
Laurenson said: “I have been very lucky to work with a host of immensely talented people whilst at BBC Films and am very grateful for all I’ve learned here from colleagues and collaborators. I'm really looking forward to the new challenge and to continuing a strong relationship with the BBC."
Since it was established in 2008, See-Saw’s production credits have included Steve McQueen’s Shame, Tom Hooper’s The King’s Speech, which won the Academy Award for best film in 2011, Oranges and Sunshine from Jim Loach and The Kings of Mykonos from Peter Andrikidis.